Variable driving mechanism



April 15, 1930. J. L. PERKINS ET AL I VARIABLE DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 27, 1928 8 7 E MW 4 fi L A TTORNE Y.

Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITED STATES J'U 'LIAN L. PERKINS, OF WEST SPRINGFIELD, AND HIRAM D. CROFT, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO PERKINS MACHINE AND GEAR COMPANY, OF WEST SPRINGFIELD, .MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS PATENT OFFICE VARIABLE DRIVING MECHANISM Application filed October-.27, 1928. Serial No. 315,527.

Our invention relates to improvements in mechanisms more especially designed for driving washing-machine paddles or dollies, and which are capable of being adjusted to change or vary the strokes or amount of motion imparted thereby to said dollies; and the objects of our invention are, first, to produce a comparatively simple, variable driving mechanism applicable to washing machines, although not necessarily limited in its application to such machines, which mechanism can be adjusted to impart the full oscillatory movement to the dolly in a washing-machine tub, to permit said dolly to remain idle without stopping said mechanism, and to impart to h the dolly any amount of movement less than the full maximum amount; and, second, to produce.

mechanism of this character wh1ch may and preferably does make use of a rack and pinion, the rack and inion, especially when the former is actuated by an eccentric, as is preferable in this case, constituting perhaps the most eflicient means for converting a rotary into an oscillatory motionand transmitting it to the dolly.

It is desirable at times, in a washing machine, to stop the dolly without shutting off the motive power of the machine, as when the wringer is in use, and at other times to regulate the amount of movement. of said dolly, the maximum amount being needed for coarse clothes, and less than that amount for finer clothes, varying according to the character of the clothes, in the washing operations. Some fabrics are so delicate as to be able to withstand or endure very little agitation, and need but little to cleanse them, while others require and can endure more, but less than the maximum amount. All of these contingencies are provided for with our mechanism. Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

We attain the objects and secure the advantages of our invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a top plan of variable driving mechanism which em odies a practlcal form of our invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal, vertical section through saidmechanism on ofli'set planes which pass through the axial centers of three of the rotatable elements; Fig. 3, a transverse, vertical section through a portion .of said mechanism, taken on lines 3-3, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in- Fig. 1; Fig. 4 an operative plan of the members which impart oscillatory movement directly to the dolly shaft; Fig. 5, a similar plan, but showing an adjustment of the parts different from that in the last preceding view, and Fig. 6, still another similar plan, but illustrating another adjustment.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the first view the mechanism is located in a horizontal transmission case from which the cover has been removed, portions of said case and mechanism being in section. The case and cover just referred to are respectively indicated, by the numerals 1 and 2.

In the second view, the lower port-ion of a hollow support or mast for a dolly (not shown) is re resented at 4. This mast has a base piece or ange 5 which is mounted on and secured to the cover 2, and in turn has mounted on and secured thereto a tub bottom, represented at 6. J ournaled in the lower part of the mast 4 is a crank 7. The crank 7 is keyed or otherwise secured to the lower terminal of a dolly shaft 8 which extends above said crank into the mast 4; and said crank has aflange 9 a short distance above the bottom thereof to bear'against the under edge of the mast 4.

A packing-ring 10 surrounds the shaft 8 within the mast 4 above the top of the crank 7. The mast 4 is located adjacent to the left-hand end of the case 1. The shaft 8 is supported in the usual manner to prevent it h s 1 th t a ends f rward y t*hmgh he bearing 11, and within said housing is a bearing-block 16 for the forward terminal portion of the shaft 13. The bearing-block 16 and the housing 15 are pinned at 17 to the bearing 11. Encircling the shaft 13 with- A thrust spring 20 and ball 21 are introduced between the back side of the chamber within the case 1 and the inner end of the shaft 13.

Grooved pulleys 22 and 23 are mounted on and secured to the terminal of the worm shaft 13 that extends outwardly from and beyond the bearing-block 16, and a nut 24 is threaded to said shaft in front of the pulley 23. The pulleys 22 and 23 revolve between the bearing-block 16 and the nut 24. Power is transmitted to these pulleys by belts 25 that pass part way around the same. It is preferred to employ two pulleys and two belts, because the liability of slipping is thereby decreased, as is well understood. The belts 25 drive the pulleys 22 and 23, the shaft 13, and the worm 14 in the same direction.

The case 1 is provided with a vertical bearing 26 and the cover 2 with a vertical bearing 27, one above the other, and respectively journaled in said bearings are under and upper trunnions 28 and 29 of a worm-wheel 30 and an eccentric 31. The worm-wheel 30, eccentric 31, and trunnions 28 and 29 may all be integral, and said worm-wheel is located by the bearings 26 and 27 and said trunnions between the'worm 14 and the right-hand end of the case 1, said worm-wheel intermeshing with said worm. Extending through the trunnions 28 and .29, the worm-wheel 30, and the eccentric 31 is a vertical shaft.32, said worm-wheel and eccentric being keyed, or otherwise secured, to said shaft. This is the shaft which drives the wringer (not shown). A hollow column, represented at 33, surrounds the Wringer shaft 32, the lower terminal of said column being set in the hearing 27 and seated on the top of the trunnion 29. Vithin the bearing 26 and beneath the trunnion 28 and the bottom end of the shaft 32, and extending below said bearing, is a hollow supporting member 34 for the righthand end of the case 1.

A ring 35 encircles the eccentric 31, and integral with said ring and extending in the case 1 to the left is an arm 36 provided at the free terminal with a rack 37 having its teeth on the front edge. When the worm 14 is rotated, the worm-wheel 30 is revolved and carries with it the eccentric 31 and the shaft 32 causing the former to revolve in its orbit and the latter to rotate on its axis. and said eccentric imparts, through the medium of the ring 35 and the arm 36, a reciprocating motion to the rack 37. The rack 37, when reciprocated by the eccentric 31 has a slight rocking motion or movement imparted thereto by said eccentric, but this is of no importance.

There is a vertical bearing 38 which extends below the case 1, between the bearing 26 and the left-hand end of said case, and a control arm 39, in the case 1, has at the righthand end a downwardly extending spindle 40 journaled insaid bearing. The arm 39 rests and swings on the top of the bearing 38 and a boss 41 on the floor of the case. On top of the arm 39, at the free terminal, is an integral, annular flange or rim 42. A packing-ring 43 is introduced between contiguous surfaces of the bearing 38 and the arm 39.

Located in the axial center of the rim 42, with the base set in the arm 39, is a stud 44, and mounted on said stud, with a bushing 45 between, is a pinion 46. The rack 37 engages the pinion 46 from behind, the back side of the rim 42 being cut away, as indicated at 47, to admit of such engagement. Above and integral with the pinion 46 is a disk 48 which fits and oscillates in the upper part of the rim 42. Extending diametrically through the disk 48 from side to side, and opening through the top of said disk, is aslot 49.

Slidingly arranged in the slot 49 is a block 50. The horizontal arm (51) of the crank 7 is above the block 50 and pivotally connected at 52 therewith.

The oscillatory movement imparted to the pinion 46 by the rack 37, and through said pinion to the disk 48 and the block 50, is transmitted from the latter by the pivot 52 to the crank 7 and the dolly shaft 8. The amount of this movement can be changed or varied, as will presently be explained. a

The rack 37 is yieldingly held in engagement with-the pinion 46 by means of a spring- ,pressed arm 53. The left-hand end of the arm 53 is pivotally connected at 54 with a lug 55 which projects rearwardlyfrom the rim 42 at the left, a spring 56 extends forwardly from the free end of said arm to a lug 57 that projects from the rear right quadrant of said rim, and a roll 58 is mounted on a vertical pin 59 carried by said arm intermediate of the ends thereof. the arm being recessed to accommodate said roll. The roll 58 projects beyond the front side of the arm 53 into contact with the back side of the rack 37, is held constantly in such contact by said arm and the spring 57. and thus retams said rack in engagement with the pinion 46. The rack 37 is always free to reciprocate ncontact with the roll 58. The slight rockmg motion imparted to the rack 37 and the arm 36 by the eccentric 31 operating in the ring 35, is taken care of by the spring 56, and at all times under working conditions said spring causes said rack to be in engagement with the pinion 46. I

, of. spring 67, said rod enters another of the, openings 63 and locks the parts in place again.

For the purpose of changing the position of the control arm 39 and the parts and members carried thereby, an adjusting lever is provided, together with looking and releasing means therefor.

The lever 60 has a split sleeve 61 at the inner end. The spindle 40 projects below the bearing 38, and the sleeve 61 is keyed and bolted in the customary manner to this projecting terminal of said spindle. On the under side of the case 1, at the left of the bearing 38, is an arcuate lug 62 concentric with the spindle 40, and in said lug is a series of horizontally arranged holes or openings 63. The lever 60extends from the sleeve 61 to the left or outwardly and upwardly beyond said lug 62, and then outwardly in the form of a horizontal stem 64 through which extends a passage 65. The axis of the passage 65 and the axes of the openings 63 are all on the same horizontal plane, and the outer-endportion of said passage is enlarged. Inthe outer end of the aforesaid enlarged portion of the passage 65 is a perforated plug 66, behind which is a spiral spring 67. A latch rod 68 is located in the passage 65, extends through the plug 66, and has a handle 69 in the outer end. On that part of the rod 68 which is in the enlarged portion of the passage 65 is a collar 70, and'the spring 67 is between adjacent ends of said collar and the plug 66. Thus it is seen that normally the spring 67 retains the rod 68 in its inward or rearward position, when the handle or knob 69 is in contact with the outer end of the stem 64, and the rear or inner terminal of said rod is in one of the openings 63, said I rod being of sufiicient length to provide at this time the necessary amount of projection said spindle. Upon grasping the-knob 69 and drawing the rod 68 0utwardly,'. against the resiliency of the sprin 67, until the rear end of said rod is clear 0 the lug 62, the lever 60 can be moved to rock the spindle'40 and swin the arm 39 for a new adjustment therehen, by releasing the rod 68 to the The control mechanism, as illustrated in the first four views, is set to impart or cause to be imparted to the dolly shaft 8 the full or maximum stroke, because the block 50, due

to the position of the arm 39, wherein said arm is held by the latch rod 68in the foremost opening 63, is carried at the periphery of the disk 48. The ivot 52 is now most remote from the axis 0 the pinion 46, and, therefore, has imparted to, it, by the block 50, the maxi* mum amount of movement, and is caused to describe the longest arc of which it is capable (see Fig. 4), and such movement is transmitted by'said pivot to the crank and the shaft 8. v I

To reduce the stroke of the shaft 8, orthe amount of oscillation of said shaft, the latch rod 68 is withdrawn from the foremost opening"63 in the lug 62 in which the rear end of said rod is located, as shown in Fig. 2, the lever 60 is swung rearwardly the required distance, and said latch is permitted to enter one of the other of the openings 63. In swinging rearwardly the lever 60 carries with it in partial rotation the spindle 40, and the latter swings the arm 39 rearwardly, and

with said arm the stud 44, and thepinion axis, the movement imparted to said block by the oscillating disk 48 is descreased, and

to'the same extent the movement imparted to the crank 7 by said block is reduced.

Upon swinging the lever 60 rearwardly until the rod 68 is located in the rearmost opening 63, in the present construction and arrangement, the stud 44 is located directl under the pivot 52, hence the oscillating dis 48 transmits no movement to the block' 50 and the latter transmits no movement to the crank 7, this being the neutral position of the parts.see Fig. 6.

- It is now c early apparent that, when the axis of the pinion 46 is in line with the axis of the dolly shaft 8, and farthest from the axis of the, pivot 52, the greatest travel is impartedto the block 50 and the longest arc is described by said pivot; that movement of said pinion axis away from said shaft axis and toward said pivot axis correspondingly decreases the travel of said block and shortens said are; and that, when said pinion axis is farthest from said. shaft axis, and in line with said pivot axis, said block has no movement and no arc is described by said pivot.

' The adjustment is made for impartingithe maximum movement to the shaft 8 when the coarsest and strongest clothes. are to' be washed. When finer and more delicate clothes are to be washed, the control mechanism is adjusted to cut down the ,oscillatory movement of the shaft 8 to whatever extent may be necessary to meet the re uirement of the clothes. The control mechanism is adjusted in neutral position at the time it is desired to use the wrin er (not shown driven by the shaft 32, at whlch time the tu should be stationary. Thus the same mechanism driven at a constant speed is employed for driving the tub as required, for driving the wringer shaft, and for driving said tub through different degrees of movement.

More or less change may be made in the shape, size, construction, and arrangement of some or all of the parts of this variable driving mechanism, without departing from the spirit of our invention, or exceeding the scope of what is claimed.

We claim:

1. The combination, in variable driving mechanism, with a shaft provided with a crank, and a reciprocating rack, of a control arm mounted for adjustment on a plane at right-angles to said shaft, a pinion mounted on said arm in engagement with said rack, a block carried by said pinion in the oscillatory movement of the latter, but 211 o in sliding relation radially thereof, a pivot connectlng said block with said crank, and locking and releasing means for said arm.

2. The combination, in variable driving mechanism, with a shaft provided with a crank, and a reciprocating rack, of a control arm mounted for adjustment on a plane at right-angles to said shaft, a pinion mounted on said arm in engagement with said rack, said pinion having a part with a slot therein, a block slidingly arranged in said slot for radial movements, a pivot connecting said if block with said crank, and locking and releasing means for said arm.

3. The combination, in variable driving mechanism, with a shaft provided with a crank, and a reciprocating rack, of a control arm mounted for adjustment on a plane at right-angles to said shaft, said arm having an annular rim, and provided with a stud in the axial center of said rim, a pinion mounted on said stud and in engagement with said rack, said pinion being provided with a disk having a slot therein, and fitting within said rim, a block slidingly arranged in said slot for radial movements, a pivot connecting said block with said crank, and locking and releasing means for said arm.

4. The combination, in variable driving mechanism, with" a shaft provided with a crank, and a reciprocating rack, of a control arm mounted for adjustment on a plane at right-angles to saidshaft, a pinion mounted on said arm in engagement with said rack, a block carried by said pinion in the oscillatory movement of the latter, but also in sliding relation radially thereof, a pivot connecting said block with said crank, locking and releasing means for said arm, and yielding means to retain said rack in engagement with said pinion.

5. The combination, in variable driving mechanism, with a shaft provided with a crank, and a reciprocating rack, of a suitably journaled spindle, an arm rigidly connected carried by said pinion in the oscillatory movement of the latter, but also in sliding relation radially thereof, a pivot connecting I said block with said crank, and locking and releasing means for said spindle.

6. The combination, in variable driving mechanism, with a shaft provided with a crank, and a reciprocating rack, of a suitably journaled spindle, an arm rigidly connected with said spindle, a pinion mounted on said arm in engagement with said rack a block carried by saidpinion in the oscillatory movement of the latter, but also in sliding relation radiallythereof, a pivot connecting said block with said crank, an operating lever for said spindle, and locking and releasing means for said lever.

7. The combination, in variable driving mechanism, with a shaft provided with a crank, and a reciprocating rack, of a suitably journaled spindle, an arm rigidly connected with said spindle, a pinion mounted on said arm in engagement with said rack, a block carried by said pinion in the oscillatory movement of the latterfbut also in sliding relation radially thereof, a pivot connecting said block with said crank, an operating lever for said spindle, a-spring-pressed latch carried by said lever, and a fixed lug having a plurality of parts for engagement by said latch.

8. The combination, in variable driving mechanism, with a shaft provided with a crank, and a reciprocating rack, of a control arm mounted for adjustment on a plane at necting said block with said crank, locking and releasing means for said arm, and means to retain said rack in engagement with said pinion, said means comprising an arm pivoted at one end and spring-pressed at the other end toward said rack and having a roll to *bear on said rack.

9. The combination, in variable driving -mechanism, with a shaft provided with a crank, and an eccentric driven rack, of a control arm mounted for adjustment on a plane at right-angles to said shaft, a pinion mounted on said arm in engagement with said rack, a block carried by said pinion in the oscillatory movement of the latter, but also in sliding relation radially thereof, a pivot connecting said block with said crank, locking and releasing means for said arm, and means to retain said rack in engagementwith said pm, said means comprising an arm pivoted at one end and spring-pressed at the other end toward said rack, and having a roll to bear on said rack.

10. The combination, in variable driving mechanism, with a shaft, means to drive said shaft, an eccentric mounted on and secured to said shaft, a rack driven by said eccentric,

and a shaft providedwith a crank,of a control arm mounted for adjustment on a plane at right-angles to said second-named shaft, a pinion mounted on said arm in engagement with said rack, a block carried by said pinion in the oscillatory movement of the latter, but also in sliding relation radially thereof, a pivot connecting said block with said crank, and lockin and releasing means for said arm, where y, while said first-named shaft is driven constantly, said second-named shaft is oscillated through different degrees and permitted to remain stationary, according to the adjustment of said arm.

JULIAN L. PERKINS.

HIRAM D. CROFT. 

